Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google Translate VS Smartling

Compare Google Translate VS Smartling and see what are their differences

Google Translate logo Google Translate

Google's free service instantly translates words, phrases, and web pages between English and over 100 other languages.

Smartling logo Smartling

Website localization & translation
  • Google Translate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-28
  • Smartling Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-15

Smartling is a website and app localization software that allows your business to launch global websites and mobile apps without the need for specialized coding knowledge. Through its cloud-based software, Smartling's translation and localization solution provides the opportunity to reach additional users by targeting them in their own language.

Smartling supports the management of a variety of different translation methods, including human translation, machine translation and a mixture of both.

Google Translate features and specs

  • Free to use
    Google Translate is available at no cost, making it accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
  • Supports multiple languages
    It supports translation for over 100 languages, providing wide-ranging utility for users around the globe.
  • User-friendly interface
    The platform is simple and easy to navigate, making it convenient for users of all skill levels.
  • Real-time translation
    Google Translate offers instant translations, allowing for quick and efficient communication.
  • Multi-platform availability
    It is accessible via web, mobile apps, and browser extensions, providing flexibility in how it can be used.
  • Voice and image translation
    The service includes voice input and image translation features, broadening its usability.

Possible disadvantages of Google Translate

  • Translation accuracy
    Though improving, translations are not always perfect and can sometimes be awkward or incorrect.
  • Contextual limitations
    Google Translate may struggle with idiomatic expressions, slang, and context-specific translations.
  • Data privacy concerns
    Translating sensitive information on an online platform can pose data privacy risks.
  • Dependency on internet
    The effectiveness of Google Translate largely depends on the availability and speed of an internet connection.
  • Limited dialect support
    The service may not accurately translate regional dialects and less-common languages.
  • Human touch missing
    Machine translations lack the nuanced understanding and cultural context that human translators can provide.

Smartling features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Smartling offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
  • Automation and Integration
    The platform features strong automation capabilities and seamless integration with various CMSs, tools, and platforms, streamlining the translation workflow.
  • Comprehensive Translation Management
    Smartling provides robust project management tools, including real-time collaboration, visual context for translators, and extensive language support.
  • Quality Assurance Tools
    Includes built-in quality checks, in-context review, and glossary management to ensure consistent and high-quality translations.
  • Analytics and Reporting
    Offers detailed analytics and reporting features to monitor translation progress, speed, and quality, enabling data-driven decision-making.

Possible disadvantages of Smartling

  • Pricing
    Smartling's pricing model can be expensive, particularly for smaller businesses or companies that don't have a significant volume of translations.
  • Learning Curve
    While the platform is user-friendly, the comprehensive feature set can require a learning period for new users to fully utilize all functionalities.
  • Dependence on Internet Connection
    Being a cloud-based service, Smartling requires a reliable internet connection, which can be a limitation in regions with poor connectivity.
  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    Lacks robust offline capabilities, meaning users must be online to access full functionality, which can be inconvenient.
  • Occasional Technical Issues
    Users have reported occasional technical glitches and downtime, which can disrupt translation workflows.

Analysis of Google Translate

Overall verdict

  • Google Translate is generally considered effective for basic translations, offering a quick and easy solution for travelers, students, and casual users. However, it may not always provide the most accurate or nuanced translations for complex texts or specialized subject matter.

Why this product is good

  • Google Translate is a widely used translation tool known for its extensive language support, ease of use, and accessibility. It employs advanced machine learning algorithms to improve translation accuracy over time. Additionally, features like camera translation, voice input, and real-time conversation translation make it versatile for various contexts.

Recommended for

  • Travelers needing quick translations for signs, menus, or basic conversation.
  • Students looking to understand foreign-language texts or for language learning aids.
  • Businesses that require informal and basic translation services but not for legal or technical documents.

Analysis of Smartling

Overall verdict

  • Smartling is generally considered a good choice for businesses needing robust translation and localization solutions. Its comprehensive features, ease of use, and reliable support contribute to its positive reputation among users.

Why this product is good

  • Smartling is a cloud-based translation management platform that helps businesses streamline their localization efforts. It offers features such as automated workflows, a user-friendly interface, and integrations with other tools. These features make it easier for teams to manage translations effectively and maintain consistency across all content.

Recommended for

    Smartling is recommended for medium to large enterprises with ongoing localization needs, content creators seeking efficient translation management, and teams looking for seamless integration with their existing content management systems and marketing tools.

Google Translate videos

Google Translate 2018: Instant Interpreter!

More videos:

  • Review - Using Google Translate When Traveling | Explore a Foreign Country with Ease!
  • Tutorial - Google translate kaise chalaye | how to use google translate in mobile in hindi

Smartling videos

Smartling Overview

More videos:

  • Review - Smartling in 2 Minutes
  • Review - Smartling Mobile App Localization Solution

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google Translate and Smartling)
Languages
100 100%
0% 0
Localization
0 0%
100% 100
Translation Service
100 100%
0% 0
Website Localization
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Google Translate and Smartling

Google Translate Reviews

  1. i love this apps

    🏁 Competitors:
    👍 Pros:    Affordable price
    👎 Cons:    Affordable price

The best machine translation software you can try in 2022
Google Translate needs no introduction, being probably the most well-known machine translation software out there. Launched in 2006, the translation tool previously used SMT to churn out word-for-word translations. Since then, however, Google has abandoned SMT in favor of the more accurate NMT, resulting in ever-improving translation quality. Dubbed Google Neural Machine...
Source: weglot.com
8 Best Online Translators to Using in the Real World
If you have a small sentence or a few words to translate, then you can directly place them in the box without opening its website. But, if you have a long text to be translated, you need to open the Google Translate website. This is where you will receive more space for putting up your text, and you also get an option to choose your input method from keyboard and handwriting...
Source: geekflare.com
112 Best Chrome Extensions You Should Try (2021 List)
Google Translate chrome web extension is an easy tool to understand the meanings of languages on web pages. You can just hit the extension icon to translate any highlighted part or the entire page. It supports most of the notable languages. But note that perfect and exact translation is not always accurate.
7 Best Google Translate Alternatives for 2020
But among all the apps around, Google translate is probably on everyone’s fingertip. With more than 200 million users daily, Google translate is defiantly a trustworthy + multilingual + mechanical + translator.
Source: blog.bit.ai
Best Google Translate Alternative for 2020 Onward
One of the most common reasons people search for the best Google Translate alternative is its functional limitations. While Google Translate is free and easy to use, it’s also extremely limited due to the way it works. With Google Translate alone, what you get is what you get. There’s no way for you to train the machine translation engine to produce better translations.

Smartling Reviews

Best Localization Software in 2022
When it comes to workflow and translation management, the Smartling TMS appears to be built towards automation. It allows you to collaborate on content across platforms and outputs. Smartling provides end-to-end translation management, allowing you to not only work on translations but also employ experienced translators, have your work rolled out to the production...
Source: tolgee.io

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Google Translate seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 510 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Google Translate mentions (510)

  • US pauses new student visa interviews as it mulls expanding social media vetting
    > Maybe China can become the destination for ambitious smart people. Don't underestimate the language barrier. All those stereotypes about Chinese people mixing Rs and Ls? That works both ways, not just tongue twisters like Lion-Eating Poet in the Stone Den*, but even "Hello":... - Source: Hacker News / 5 days ago
  • The Technology Behind YouTube’s Auto-Captioning System
    Additionally, YouTube’s system supports multiple languages and is regularly updated to include new ones. This multilingual capability is made possible by training models on diverse datasets and leveraging translation technologies like Google Translate. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Fans learn they can't trust AI translations
    20 years ago, in simpler times, people were sharing badly done human translations: https://archive.org/details/engrishtwotowerssubtitles And just plain mistakes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7702913.stm I've also encountered a case of real paid humans translating the English word "drake", in a mythological context where it was obviously a dragon, as if it were used in the sense of "male duck". Myself, I decided to... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • 12,419 days of Strandbeest evolution [video]
    As stated in the video, it translates to 'beach beast'. What I find remarkable is how difficult it seems for a lot of native English speakers to correctly pronounce the word. https://translate.google.com/?sl=nl&tl=en&text=strandbeest&op=translate. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • How to Create Inclusive Multilingual Apps
    *Automating Translation with Machine Translation Systems * Integrating machine translation can significantly speed up the localization process. Tools like Lingvanex, Google Translate, or DeepL offer APIs that enable instant translation. However, it’s not enough to simply “turn on” machine translation—you need to integrate it thoughtfully for maximum impact. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
View more

Smartling mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Smartling yet. Tracking of Smartling recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google Translate and Smartling, you can also consider the following products

DeepL Translator - DeepL Translator is a machine translator that currently supports 42 language combinations.

POEditor - The translation and localization management platform that's easy to use *and* affordable!

Microsoft Translator - Microsoft Translator is your door to a wider world.

Transifex - Transifex makes it easy to collect, translate and deliver digital content, web and mobile apps in multiple languages. Localization for agile teams.

Mate Translate - Ultimate translation app for Mac, iOS, Chrome and many more

Phrase - A platform offering AI-powered translation tools for localization at scale.